Improved fruit-basket



l PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASNINGTUN. lD` C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

DAVID COOK, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

lMPROVED FRUIT-BASKET.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 24,723, dated July 12, 1359.

To r//ZZ wwm. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAvIn Cook, of the city and county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Baskets as a New Article of Manufacture; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and character of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which makes a part of this specification, which drawing is a perspective view of' the fruit-basket in all its essential particulars.

My improvement consists in making the fruitbasket of thin slats of wood curved or bent laterally or transversely to t the shape of the bottom, and having those slats sawed or slitted lengthwise from the top to a point more or less distant from the bottom as shall be found most convenient to enable me to give the desired flaring` or bell-shape t0 the article; and in binding` the top and bottom of the fruitbasket with a suitable band of sheet metal, to strengthen the article, and also to enable me to produce the flaring or bell shape of the article and render that shape permanent. I make the bottom of a circular or elliptic piece of wood and perforate it'with holes, if thought necessary, f'or ventilation. I make the upright part of thin slats of woodl of any suitable or desired kind, and I perforate them in one or more places as near the bottom as I desire to cut or saw the slit, and saw a kerf or slit from the top to the perforation, so as to divide the upper portion into two or more narrow slats, as represented in the drawing, which shows the article as finished. I make the hoop or band A for the bottom of sheet meta-l, (either plain or ornamented,) and set up the slats B (being slitted and prepared as above described) within this hoop or band A, until it `is i'ull, in a similar manner to that practiced by coopers in setting up casks, &c. I then insert the bottom and secure it in its proper position by any suitable means. I then form of sheet metal a double band or cap, C, (or use prepared edging,) somewhat larger in diameter than the bottom, and insert into it the upper ends of the narrow (or slitted) part of the slats, and arrange and secure them at equal distances around the circle or ellipse. By thus spreading them out and making the top the largest, the narrow slats will be curved in their longitudinal direction, and thus give to the article the bell shape, and the spaces between the narrow slats will afford a sufficient circulation 0f air or ventilation.

Ilhe advantages of my improvement consis in that I can make wooden fruitbaskets by this method at unich less expense, in proportion to their style, (either plain or ornamented,) than can be made by any method heretofore knownhor of any other material, (I can even make them at less expense than the common splint strawberry-basket,) and in that they may be made of any species of wood and ornamented to any desired extent, and therefore be made suitable for fancy baskets for any purpose whatever, and with or without handles of any kind.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an article of new manufacture, making a metal-bound wooden fruit-basket, either plain or orna1nented,when constructed and fitted for use, substantially as herein described.

DAVID COOK. Vitnesses:

E. CRAIG, R. FrTzGERALD. 

